Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
2152. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the closing date for the fodder support scheme from 5 September 2022 to 30 September 2022 due to poor grass growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43879/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will recall that on 15th June 2022, I launched the €56 million Fodder Support Scheme to assist farmers, in particular drystock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) for the coming winter to help reduce the risk of a shortage of animal feed over the coming winter and next spring.
Over 70,000 farmers across the country applied to join the Scheme since the online application system opened on 17th June 2022. The application system closed on Saturday 27th August 2022 in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme.
One of the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme is that a participant must confirm and agree to cut, and conserve silage and/or hay on the declared area by Monday 5th September 2022. This date was set down to ensure firstly that farmers had sufficient opportunity to cut and conserve the areas declared under the Scheme, but crucially also to ensure that the necessary inspections and other administrative and compliance checks could be undertaken in sufficient time to allow payments to commence in late November 2022.
All payments under the Fodder Support Scheme must be made before the end of 2022, in accordance with the notification previously sent to the European Commission under the Temporary Crisis Framework, informing them of the details of this Scheme.
It is not proposed to extend the cutting date for the Fodder Support Scheme beyond 5th September 2022.
